Blaenymaes & Portmead super‑school merger takes step forward

The project, backed by Welsh Government, promises modern classrooms, outdoor play areas, a part‑time nursery, Flying Start provision and specialist support facilities.

The move hasn’t been without controversy. Parents raised concerns when the school plan was first unveiled, sparking a row over whether the two schools should be forced together. A formal consultation followed, with the majority backing the merger.

Councillors have now confirmed the schools will amalgamate in 2030, creating one governing body and one headteacher. Pupils are expected to move into the new build in 2031, with the new school proposed close to Blaenymaes Primary.

Council Leader Rob Stewart said:

“We are absolutely committed to this huge investment that will transform education for generations of children. Together with Welsh Government we’re investing more than £400m in new and improved facilities across Swansea — the largest ever investment in school infrastructure here.”

Cabinet Member for Education Robert Smith added:

“Better school buildings are needed to meet the needs of pupils at Blaenymaes and Portmead. A brand new school will bring them the benefits already enjoyed by other communities where we’ve built new schools.”

For families, the decision means the countdown is on. In five years’ time, Blaenymaes and Portmead will no longer exist as separate schools — and by 2031, hundreds of children are set to swap ageing classrooms for a modern “super‑school” designed to change the face of education in the north of the city.

Related stories: Blaenymaes & Portmead school plans

Row over Blaenymaes & Portmead school plan
Parents voiced concerns as proposals for a new super‑school first emerged.

Consultation backs merger
Formal consultation showed support for amalgamating the two schools ahead of a new build.

New school proposal unveiled
Council outlined plans for a modern site near Blaenymaes Primary to serve both communities.

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New school plan for Blaenymaes and Portmead sparks row over amalgamation

Swansea Council says the new school, due to open in 2031, will provide modern classrooms, improved outdoor facilities, a part‑time nursery, Flying Start provision and a Specialist Teaching Facility for pupils needing extra support.

The council’s cabinet has now approved publishing a statutory notice to amalgamate Blaenymaes and Portmead Primary Schools – but not until 2030, just a year before the new building is due to open.

That change follows feedback from staff, parents and pupils during consultation earlier this year. Originally, amalgamation was proposed for 2027.

Council view

Cabinet Member for Education Robert Smith said the delay was a direct response to community concerns:

“One of the clear messages from the consultation was that both communities recognise that better buildings and facilities are needed. The main concern expressed related to the proposed date of amalgamation and in response to these representations the change has been made so that amalgamation would not happen until 2030.”

He stressed that both schools will continue to operate as normal for the next five years while the new school is designed and built.

Council Leader Rob Stewart added:

“Working with our colleagues at Welsh Government we are committed to investing £420m in new and improved schools in the coming years. We have already delivered the largest investment in school infrastructure ever seen in Swansea and we will be announcing more investment proposals in the months to come.”

The proposed site for the new school is near the existing Blaenymaes Primary site.

Governors’ opposition

But the Governing Body of Portmead Primary School has issued a strong statement opposing the amalgamation.

While not against the principle of a new school building, governors say they are firmly against merging the two schools, warning it would damage pupils’ learning, well‑being and sense of identity.

They said:

“New is not always better, and both schools have worked extremely hard to develop their own bespoke approaches, offering the nurture, care, and community support that meet the specific needs of their pupils.”

Governors say they have collected more than 190 signatures from parents and visitors opposing the move adding that “the level of objection is extremely high”.

Governors added that they “remain concerned that merging two schools with distinct identities and educational needs will have a significant negative impact on pupils’ learning, well-being, and sense of belonging, while also undermining the strong community identity that has been built over many years.”

They also raised fears about what would happen to the Portmead site once it is vacated, warning it could become a magnet for anti‑social behaviour and vandalism.

“There are examples of abandoned school buildings nearby that have been left to fall into ruin posing a significant risk to the safety of others and are an eyesore for the local communities that have to deal with an increase in criminal activity,” the statement said.

What happens next

The statutory notice to amalgamate the schools will now be published, with a further consultation period to follow. A final decision on the future use of the existing school sites will be made at the end of that process if the proposal is approved.

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Merger of Blaenymaes and Portmead primary schools moves closer after consultation support

Swansea Council’s Cabinet will consider the findings on 18 September, with officers recommending the amalgamation goes ahead from the start of the 2026/27 academic year.

The statutory consultation, which ran earlier this year, invited views from parents, staff, governors, pupils and the wider community. According to the council’s report, most respondents supported the merger, highlighting the potential for better facilities, more efficient use of resources and greater opportunities for pupils and staff.

However, the process also drew objections. Some parents raised concerns about longer journeys for families living closer to Portmead, the loss of a school with deep community roots, and uncertainty over the future of the Portmead site. The council says these issues will be addressed through transition planning, further engagement and a separate decision on the site’s future use.

Schools to remain open until new building is ready

While the amalgamation would bring both schools under one headteacher and governing body from 2026, both existing sites would continue to operate for several years. Pupils would remain in their current buildings until a brand‑new, purpose‑built school is completed — currently expected to open in 2031.

The new school, planned near the existing Blaenymaes Primary site, would be large enough to accommodate all children in the community and include part‑time nursery and Flying Start provision, as well as a Specialist Teaching Facility for pupils needing additional support. It would also feature improved outdoor areas for play, learning and sport.

Why the merger is being proposed

Both Blaenymaes and Portmead primaries have seen a steady decline in pupil numbers, with surplus places now well above Welsh Government guidelines. The Blaenymaes site has the capacity to accommodate all pupils from both schools, and the council argues that operating from one school entity will improve the learning environment, support curriculum delivery and make better use of public funds.

The report stresses the proposal is “not a reflection on the quality of teaching or leadership” at either school, but a response to demographic change and the need to ensure “the right number of school places, of the right type, in the right locations” across Swansea.

Next steps

If Cabinet approves the recommendation, the council will publish a statutory notice confirming its intention to amalgamate. This will trigger a 28‑day period for formal objections before a final decision is made.

Should the plan proceed, the merged school would open in September 2026, with both existing sites continuing to operate until the new building is ready.

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New school planned for Blaenymaes and Portmead

Under the proposals by Swansea Council, it is expected the new school will open in six years’ time and replace the two existing school buildings.

Both the Blaenymaes and Portmead Primary School sites will remain open until it is ready and it is envisaged existing and new pupils will continue to be taught in their current sites until 2031.

Swansea Council say the new school would be large enough to accommodate all children in the community and it will have part-time nursery and Flying Start provision, along with a Specialist Teaching Facility for those pupils that need additional support.

There will also be better outdoor areas for play, learning and sport.

To begin the process, the first stage is that Blaenymaes and Portmead Primaries would be amalgamated bringing both sites under one headteacher and governing body.

Swansea Council say it is something that has been done successfully in the past, ahead of major school investment projects in the city.

Swansea Council’s cabinet has agreed to consult on the amalgamation and pupils, staff, parents and carers as well as the wider community will be asked for their views as part of the process.

Cabinet will then decide at a future meeting whether to proceed with the amalgamation which could take place in September 2027.

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Education, Robert Smith, said: “We want to give every pupil in Swansea the best possible chance of achieving their full potential and a major step to support this is to ensure they are taught in the best possible learning environments.

“Better school buildings are needed to meet the current and future needs of pupils at Blaenymaes and Portmead Primary Schools and a brand new school will bring them the benefits enjoyed by other communities where we have built new schools.

“Pupils and their parents can be assured that both the existing school sites will remain open until the new state-of-the-art school is ready and parents and pupils will see very little change until then.

“While the new school building does not form part of this consultation, amalgamating the two schools is a first step towards realising this major investment in the future of the children of the area.

“We want to make sure that we get this right, so if agreed the next stage will then be to progress to detailed design work where we’ll involve staff, pupils, their families and governors.

“This will take time before a final proposal is costed and finance agreed with Welsh Government so building work can begin. This is then estimated to take around two years.”

The current proposed site of the new school will be near to the existing Blaenymaes Primary site.

The council say that no decision will be made on the future use of the existing school sites until after the new school opens.

Swansea Council Leader Rob Stewart added: “Working with our colleagues at Welsh Government we are committed to investing £420m in new and improved schools in the coming years.

“We have already delivered the largest investment in school infrastructure ever seen in Swansea and we will be announcing more proposals in the months to come.”

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